Obama: Black Power! I'se runnin' for Pres-o-dent!

Did you know that Ralph Nader is running for president? Again. I didn't, but I do now. Just goes to show that no publicity is bad publicity, and Nader is proving it. He's all over the news for his asinine statements in an interview with the Rocky Mountain News.

"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson?

Where to even start. Well, how about pointing out the fact that Barack Obama is running for the position of the President of the United States. Last I heard, there were a lot more than just Black folks living here, and actually, the majority of people don't live in the ghetto. But wait there's more.

"He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician," Nader said. "He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."

Don't worry Ralph, I've got the solution and I hope the Obama campaign is listening. I think that maybe Obama should incorporate something like this in his stump speech.

Sup? I'm Barack Obama and I'se runnin' for Pres-o-dent.

We gotsta do sumpin' bout payday loans and predatory lending, and sh*t. The interest on them muthaf*ckas is too high. I mean got damn. Don't even git me started on lead and asbestos and crime and all that ol' bullsh*t. Y'all know this county is f*cked up right now, and ima fix it. Nyahmean?

So git yo punk ass out and vote for me in November, else I'll f*ck you the f*ck up. Muthaf*ckas.

That should help him regain his street credibility, and be suitably threatening enough to white people, don't you think? If not, he can always throw a Black Power or two in for good measure.

Would that be Black enough for you Ralph?

Moving Sucks

Posting has been a little light around here because I'm in the process of moving my office from one part of town to another. Have I mentioned that moving sucks?

I say that because I'm in the 4th day of a 1 day office move. What was supposed to be simply to pack up, wait for the movers, go to the new place, and unpack, has truly moved into the realm of the surreal.

Consider the moving company, after estimating that it would take a semi-trailer to relocate our and our co-locatee's offices, showed up with a 14 box truck instead.

Our how about the 4 man crew that mysteriously shrank to 2 by the time they arrrived.

Or the pain in the butt building management that would not allow anything to be moved or staged until 5:30 PM.

And I won't even mention that same buildings slower than molasses freight elevator, that broke on about the 4th trip down.

Do I need to go on? I could but I won't. Thankfully everything is in place now, and it's just a matter of getting it organized in the new space.

Now, wait a minute, why isn't this phone working?

When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong

I have this strange opinion that after you reach a certain station in life, you're supposed to leave the foolishness of your past behind. Looking at the legions of rappers, ball players, and entertainers who just stay in trouble over dumb stuff only reinforces that opinion. Dave Chappelle did a skit on his short-lived, but funny tv show called "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong." You can figure out the premise, and here's a real life example:

State Rep. Borris Miles pleaded not guilty at his arraignment this morning in a Harris County court.

Miles, a Houston Democrat, ...was indicted April 14 on two counts of deadly conduct stemming from complaints that he had brandished a pistol and made threats at two parties in December.

...party host David Harris, decided to press charges after a drunken Miles shocked guests with loud, profane language, grabbed his face and planted a Godfather-style "kiss of death" on his cheeks. Harris also said Miles handed him a pistol and declared, "You don't know what I'm capable of doing."

Miles, in his first term representing District 146, which includes Sunnyside and the Third Ward, lost his re-election bid in the March Democratic primary to former state Rep. Al Edwards.

There's a lot more to this case, and I wish my boy @pbuzz would come in out of the cold for a little while, because I know he has the lowdown. All I can say is that sometimes its necessary to just leave the worst aspects of the hood behind.

Denounce-Reject-Repeat

I've written a lot about Jeremiah Wright on this blog, and I still feel that he hasn't really said anything that millions of others don't say (and believe) on a regular basis. He has the right to feel the way he feels, and to believe as he believes. I also don't question his patriotism. What I do question is his timing and motives. I simply cannot figure out why Rev. Wright, knowing the political stakes, pushed the envelope as far as he did on Monday. Especially if he wanted his guy to win.

He does want Barack Obama to win, doesn't he? Or does he?

Perhaps he feels Obama threw him under the bus during his speech on race (although nobody else did). Maybe he's secretly been a Hillary supporter all along. Or maybe he was just paid off by one campaign or another. Who knows. What I do know is that whatever the reason, it may cost his erstwhile parishioner the nomination and maybe the presidency.

Yeah, Barack Obama has a problem on his hands. He's now officially caught in a "denouncement" loop that is going to be awfully hard to break free of. What do I mean? Well, let me explain.

When the sound bites of Rev. Wright's sermons first hit the airwaves, Obama was pressured to denounce him. He didn't, instead giving what was universally hailed as a brilliant speech on race, during which he "rejected" his pastor's words, but refused to denounce the man.

Now with Wright's little speaking tour (which started out so well on Friday), and especially the National Press Club engagement, Obama has been forced to denounce the man himself, which in turn his opponents are using to question his character. In fact, I'm already hearing the whispers that he didn't denounce him hard enough to regain his footing in the campaign. You get the picture?

So in order to save some time and aggravation, here's my list of future denouncements for Barack Obama to make, preferably in one fell swoop. You know it's coming, so just get it over with already.

1) Further denounce Rev. Wright for having the nerve to try and speak truth to power, for buck-dancing in front of all them folks, and acting like he was in his church when it wasn't even Sunday.

2) Denounce Trinity United Church of Christ because after all, Rev. Wright was the pastor there.

3) Denounce and reject the Black church in general, because it produced Trinity UCC and Rev. Wright.

3) Then denounce Black society because it produced the Black church, which produced Trinity United Church of Christ, which produced Rev. Wright.

4) Denounce Black people because they created Black society, which produced the Black church, which produced Trinity United Church of Christ, which produced Rev. Wright.

5) Denounce White people, for importing Black people, who created Black society and the Black church, which produced Trinity UCC and Rev. Wright.

5) Denounce Europe for producing White people who eventually ended up here to America, and Africa for producing the soon to be imported Black people, who created Black society, which produced the Black church, that spawned Trinity UCC, that produced Rev. Wright.

6) And finally he must denounce God, who created the heavens and the earth, Europe, Africa, White people, and the Black people who created Black society and the Black church that spawned Trinity UCC that produced Rev. Wright.

That should just about do it. I'm sure if the Obama campaign broadcasts an email or fax of these future denouncements today, maybe sometime next week we can get the candidates to start discussing the issues that should be the focus of this presidential campaign.

Like the $3.69 per gallon gasoline I filled up with this morning.

My Tuesday Rant

As I’m filling up my mid size car with $3.59 a gallon, I look around and only see angry faces at the pump.

When I look around the grocery store I see people scraping change from their pocket books, to buy oranges priced at $1.50 per fruit, or apples costing about $1 each. And I’m not talking about organic fruit. I see butter at almost a $1 a stick, and Laura Leans ground beef at $7 per pound.

Am I thinking about Rev. Jemimah Wright? No. Are most working class people? I seriously doubt it. We're all just trying to survive.

Why is it then that when I turn on my T.V. I hear nothing about what’s actually affecting my life, or my friends, family and neighbors lives? Why nothing about my $5 per gallon milk price?
As I laid in bed watching Anderson Cooper and team CNN run a clip over and over and over again almost to the point of nausea, I had to wonder if CNN (and others) think that we're all supposed to be stupid? Why is everything that comes out of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's mouth labeled as “so damaging” to Barack Obama? Who is making these judgment calls? Certainly not me.

I couldn't help but to cringe every time I heard Anderson Cooper bring up this non-issue that the media is trying its best to make a negative for Mr. Barack Obama. Even worse, I didn't hear one echo about Howard Dean stating that this primary has to be over come June 3rd?

So my question to the mass media is; Can we talk about "real issues" like jobs moving overseas or non-affordable health care coverage? How about over amplified electric bills, gas prices, college tuition, ridiculous bank fees, foreclosures, 30% credit card interest rates, etc. Or even global warming. But… then I ask myself one question; Which party has more to gain from this foolishness?

My answer: Parties - Team Clinton & her Chief Strategist John McCain.

Does the Democratic party even realize that their making a HUGE mistake by piling on here? I'm not sure, and I would like to hope so. But if they don't then oh well. Good seems to often come from bad.

Thank God For The Scientific Method

I've been on the road a little so posting has been light, but I did want to weigh in on this:

With virtually no discussion, the state's Higher Education Coordinating Board voted unanimously Thursday to deny a request by a Bible-based school and research institute to offer a master's degree in science education.

The issue was whether the institute, whose leaders believe in creationism, or that the world was literally created as recounted in the Bible, could adequately prepare its graduates to teach science in middle schools and high schools. Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes had found — and board members agreed — that it could not.

And I would have to agree, although I think they should have allowed discussion on the issue. You know the levels of faith-based foolishness would've been off the charts, which is usually good for a few laughs.

I've written about this stuff before, and as I said then

I don't have an issue if some folks want to hang their hat on intelligent design as our reason for being here, but to teach it as science is ridiculous. It is theology.

But I digress. In my opinion, this issue is about politics. And religion. Once combined, the results are usually inflammatory and this case is no exception. Creationism has it's place; especially in the church. However to teach it as science without applying the scientific method would be a tremendous disservice to students, who are already suffering from an educational system that is not meeting their needs.

With fifty percent dropout rates, the fact that our education system isn't producing the graduates needed by our industries, and that our students are falling further behind others in the developed (and developing) world, wouldn't it be nice to have a conversation about actually fixing the problem instead of promoting political and religious agendas?

A man can dream can't he?

They're Alive. Alive!

Maybe it was the protesters out front. Or that Rafer Alston was back on the floor after missing the first two games of the series. Perhaps it was Tracy McGrady doing his best superstar impersonation by actually showing up in the 4th quarter. Or that the team actually shot better than 50% from the free throw line. Whatever the reason, the Rockets finally won a game, and now have a reasonable shot to make this series at least interesting.

The Rockets look like a completely different team offensively and defensively with Alston running the point, and Carl Landry needs more playing time. You knew it was on after he had his tooth knocked out. But give Utah credit, he was playing like a man possessed before that, and Carlos Boozer decided to slow him down with a forearm to the grill. Not that it was intentional, but hey, it got him out of the game for a little bit.

The Rockets have a long way to go to actually win this series, but they can take a mighty big step by doing the same thing in Game 4 and bringing this thing back to Houston tied 2-2.

Hope is still alive in Houston.

Fools Rush In (or Hello, Texas?)

You know, there's just way too much faith-based foolishness going on in this world today. The latest example of course is the FLDS child custody case going on over in West Texas.

You know the story; polygamous religious groups establishes compound in remote area, stories come out of child abuse and sexual mistreatment, Child Protective Services swoops in and removes 416 kids, and hilarity ensues.

The cult members had their first day in court yesterday, and it turned into a three ring circus. Every lawyer in the state of Texas has seemingly flocked to the area to try and cash in on the free publicity to be had by representing one of these kids. The result?

The court hearing, which continues Friday morning, disintegrated into farce early Thursday, as hundreds of lawyers who descended on San Angelo for the proceedings shouted objections or queued up to cross-examine witnesses. The judge struggled to maintain order.

The state may have waded into a mess that it will have a hard time getting itself out of easily. Based solely on a mysterious phone call to an abuse hotline, they seized all of these kids from the compound because of concerns that they were in "eminent danger." Unfortunately for them, that may not be enough for them to achieve their goal of permanently removing the kids from the compound and placing them in foster care.

Now, I'm no expert but I've always heard that fools rush in, and that appears to be exactly what the state did in this case. There's obviously some strange goings on in that compound, but I do believe you need quite a bit more substantial and solid case before taking off down the path that was chosen. Not to mention the slippery slope of establishing precedent whenever authorities deem some other group of children to be in "eminent danger." Like maybe the kids at your church. Or in your home school network. Or youth group. Or whatever.

The end result of this whole thing will most likely be the kids being returned to the compound, the state paying out a bunch of money, and the FLDS folks being left alone. In other words, the exact same result as the last raid on a sect of this type 55 years ago.

I'm not saying that's what should happen, or condoning anything going on out at that compound. What I am saying to the state of Texas is that if you're going to do something like this, have a plan.

The Visitor

I had a visitor this afternoon. A masked stranger who came to my door looking for food. A handout in other words.

Well, I told him to be on his way. No handouts here. Be productive. Get a job. Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. You're responsible for your own destiny.

The visitor just looked at me, and then did the oddest thing. He turned to the side and started shaking his butt. Fast. So fast it was just a blur.

Now you know I wasn't having that. Not in my house. This fella obviously needed to learn a little respect and I'm just the man to teach him. But right at that moment, the wife came to the door. With food. And gave it to him.

I knew it was pointless to argue further, so I decided I'd better just take a picture of this fella in case we needed to identify him in a police lineup one of these days. After all, he was roaming the neighborhood, wearing a mask, and going up to the doors of homes that he didn't know the owners of, right? I mean we were lucky that he just ate the food she gave him, turned around, and walked away. Who's to say that the next time, he wouldn't just barge right in and take what he wanted?

So in the interest of public safety, I took some pictures of him that I'm posting here as fair warning to you all. If you see this guy at your door, my advice is "Don't Answer!"

Honoring MLK (Foolishly)

I wrote before about the dual parade charade that is Martin Luther King Day in Houston. Well, nothing much has changed.

The flip of a coin will settle which rival organization stages a parade on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday next month in downtown Houston. A federal judge has upheld the city of Houston's one-parade-a-day rule for downtown, leaving a flick of chance to determine who gets the coveted permit.

Two parade organizers have applied to proceed at the same time and place on the holiday, which falls on Jan. 21. Ovide Duncantell, executive director of the Black Heritage Society, wants to produce his 30th annual procession on the day the nation honors the slain civil rights leader while Charles Stamps of the MLK Parade Foundation is planning the competing MLK Grande Parade.

Here's a thought; how about combining the parades into a big one worthy of the MLK legacy, split the costs and the profits? Oh yeah, I almost forgot; that would require cooperation and the subverting of egos, huh? And for two grown men to put aside their differences and do what's best for the community of which dual parades definitely are not.

And It's So Nice In The Summer Too!

From the "Ok, I Guess We'll Take It" category, the Houston Chronicle is pushing this Brookings Institute survey that ranks Houston 21st among 30 major metropolitan areas according to the number of "walkable urban places" relative to the area's population.

The only question I have for the pollsters is "Have you ever been to Houston?"

Other than the lack of sidewalks almost everywhere, 12" wide "bike paths," and maniacal drivers actively aiming for pedestrians and cyclists on every street, it's a great city for walking around in.

And did I mention the heat.

Because there are a couple of master planned suburban Town Centers designed for pedestrians does not make the other 635 square miles of this city "walkable" by any stretch of the imagination.

I understand accentuating the positive, but damn.

Nooses... Again

From the Chronicle: Two Pearland High School students have been charged with disorderly conduct after a security guard saw them hanging a noose in the high school parking lot......Corey Ellis, 17, and a 16-year-old juvenile were arrested and handed over to school officials for further investigation ... (the) school district has a zero tolerance policy toward displays of any symbols that could imply threats or hate. If convicted, the teens could each face a fine of up to $500.

These copycat noose incidents are getting a little old, but what's worse are the defenders of this behavior. As if anyone hanging a noose at this particular moment in time doesn't understand EXACTLY the message they're sending. While the article is still live, you should take a peek at the reader comments underneath. for those who don't have time, here's the abridged version:

• Boys will be boys
• This is all Jesse and Al's fault (and the media)
• Black people need to get over it already
• My ancestors were hung by nooses too
• They didn't know it would be this serious
• Yada, yada, yada
  

You get the drift. And Pearland is a suburb of Houston by the way.

Crabs. Bucket.

The man who started the MLK Grande Parade, which became a glitzier, for-profit alternative to the longtime nonprofit grass-roots procession celebrating the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, has been ordered to pay $110,000 for violating an agreement between the two parades and lying during a trial this summer.

The groups, which have held rival parades since 1996, reached an agreement for a joint 2006 parade. The payment from Stamps' group was meant to compensate the Black Heritage Society for abandoning its plans and working itself into the MLK Grande Parade. Read more...

Living here in Houston I have to say it's beyond ridiculous that there are two MLK Parades on the same day, following the same route, within a couple of hours of each other every year. Worse, the civic community and the public basically have to choose sides when determining which parade to participate in or attend, turning an otherwise simple decision into a political one. I wonder what Dr. King would have to say about this nonsense?